etching with Kyle Topping

Lots of printmaking workshops this Spring and Summer. I was taking them and hosting them and enjoyed all of it immensely. My first session was hosting a daytime weekly open studio print session. The second group was 2 full Sundays of monoprinting with chine colle, and lunch provided. Both groups were so fun and inspiring. My third workshop was as a student alongside Pam at Spark Box where we had a semi private non-toxic etching class (copper plates and ferric chloride)  with Kyle Topping.  Last but not least, I took Myles Calvert's etching workshop (also non-toxic) using zinc and copper sulphate. I have a few photos from each session but should probably treat them individually so that I don't confuse things.
These photos below are from Kyle's etching workshop.

I had my drawing on trace paper which I usually do, then it is easy to reverse if needed. Our plates were polished and de-greased with Soya sauce...weird and new to me but it worked perfectly. We created a solution of Future floor wax and ink to brush on to the plate- very thin! Mine is a bit heavy handed below, is better when it is a thin coating. Or two thin coatings...

The white lines are from the white transfer paper that I use. I don't like the chalky ones as they tend to be powdery and not stick the same as this type.

I drew my lines and then we etched with Ferric Chloride. After etching I was able to do a test print from the plate without removing the ground first. That was a big time saver. The black spots above are from where I touched up the ground with a brush with a heavier acrylic material. (because my ground was a bit too heavy in some areas and chipped when I was drawing...) I did find out later that I could also use the floor wax and ink solution with a brush to touch up areas and did not need to use a heavier material.

Some more line work and etching and then I removed the ground with a soda ash solution and proofed the plate again on a piece of gampi this time. It is very faint but I am happy with the line work and am ready to prepare for an aquatint. Kyle set us up for using the airbrush with a screen filler, which I was a bit nervous about possibly having to do a few times, but all went well. I carefully packed my plate away with the aquatint ground safely on so that I could work on it slowly at home. We were running out of time and I had so many other things started that needed finishing.

Kyle and I taking a break with a Wellington Brewery beer (from Guelph!) and thinking of Josh (who says that this Wellington beer is his favourite) somewhere in Ireland printing at the time and may have a different favourite beer by now.

Pam very focussed on the press

These are Pam's first proofs of her etched plate that turned out so well.  I did not notice her working that much faster than me but somehow she did manage to get her plate finished...

Just a note on materials: if you are looking for white transfer paper, etching inks, etching tools, tarlatan and other print materials you can find them at Wyndham Art Supplies in Guelph. Yes, they ship. *(people keep asking me where to find materials and I remind them that I am married to an arts supply store owner- so yes, his store carries almost everything a printmaker needs)

100 prints and Wyndham's inventory sale

Today is t-shirt weather with a touch of humid starting to edge it's way into our lives. Seems too soon after the hell Winter we had that just barely left. There are very few people not happy about the change in temperature around here and we are all tired of complaining about the weather and listening to complaining. So that is that I guess. And with the changes comes a whole lot of busy which I am also content with. 

This Thursday is Open Studio's big event and fundraiser 100 prints at the Palais Royale on the lakeshore in Toronto. One hundred tickets are sold to win 100 prints. Each ticket number is drawn in random order and when your ticket is drawn, you have the choice of a print from the prints that are remaining. For instance, the first ticket drawn choose a work from 100 and the last ticket drawn has the last work remaining. It is lots of fun and the venue is lovely and there is good food, drink and silent auction artwork and items as well. On Thursday evening the winner of Open Studio's National Printmaking Awards will also be announced. 

The artists shortlisted for the Awards are:
-Elizabeth D'Agostino (Toronto, ON)
-Doug Guildford (Toronto, ON/ Voglers Cove, NS)
-Dan O'Neill (Halifax, NS)
-Kurt Pammer (Toronto, ON)
-Dan Steeves (Sackville, NB)
-Laura Widmer (Kelowna, BC)

You can check out all of the wonderful work that will be available by clicking here:
Please click here to view the 100 Prints! (7.7 MB)

Another big event starting this week is the Wyndham Art Supplies Spring Sale. This is an annual sale for Chris and the gang and will run for 2 weeks leading up to their inventory day (or two...). There is a lot of inventory in the store and it is a big bonus to all of us counters if we can bring it down a bit before the counting. The sale is a nice thank you to all of their loyal customers for another year of business.
You can check out the details of the sale here on their website. They have lots of printmaking supplies and will ship as well. I will have to stock up on a few things before I leave for Picton next week. Can't wait.